Fundamentals of Accelerator Physics and Technology with Simulations and Measurements Lab course

Sponsoring University:

College of William and Mary

Course:

Fundamentals of Accelerator Physics and Technology with Simulations and Measurements Lab (undergraduate level)

Instructors:

Louis Emery and Nick Sereno, APS / ANL

This course gives an introduction to accelerator physics and technology. Formal chalk-and-blackboard-type lectures will be given in the mornings and lab modules in computer simulations and other measurements (developed over several offerings of the course by H. Wiedemann) will be given in the afternoon. The lectures will start with a survey of the most common accelerator types and an introduction to particle beam dynamics. We will derive formalisms for particle beam bending and focusing. The concepts of orbit, beam emittance, betatron functions and envelope, dispersion, tunes, natural chromaticity with its correction and beam stability will be covered. As emphasis will be on electron accelerators, synchrotron radiation effects, which describe the dynamics of individual particles and beam, will be covered. A discussion of beam interaction with accelerating fields will lead to the understanding of longitudinal motion, synchrotron oscillations and energy acceptance. Some practical topics such as the process of injection and accumulation will be discussed. An introduction to magnet alignment and field errors will convey a feeling for tolerances followed by a description of beam monitoring, orbit measurement and correction.

The hands-on afternoon program is meant to solidify the understanding of some of the morning topics. The computer lab modules cover the simulation of magnets with saturation, the design of a beam transport system, rf-cavities and ultra-high vacuum systems. Equipment for actual magnetic field measurements on a bending magnet, quadrupoles and undulator magnet will be made available to compare simulations with results of real magnet field measurements. Other equipment allows the measurement of various quantities on an rf-cavity and comparison with theoretical and computer-simulated results. Similar exercises will be done with a beam current and position monitor as well as an introduction to the use of a lock-in amplifier. Prerequisites: a course in Mechanics and Electromagnetism. Textbook to be provided: Particle Accelerator Physics I & II by Helmut Wiedemann (2nd edition, 2nd printing, Springer-Verlag, 2003)